The Cantabrian culture can be found in Cantabria, located along the Atlantic coast of Spain. Santander is the capital of the area. It is said to be a great place for visitors and tourists because of the Cantabrian Mountains and the coastal strip. The climate in Cantabria is far different from the rest of Spain due to its location along the Atlantic coast. Temperatures are lower and precipitation is greater. The snow is extremely heavy in the mountains; it usually does not melt until late summer. This region was, at one point, dominated by the Romans, though their influence on the area was superficial. Later Cantabria recovered its independence. The province of Santander was set up in 1833 giving Cantabria a administrative center for the first time in history.
Many different examples of prehistoric cave art have been found, suggesting the Cantabrian culture is at least 15,000 years old. Cave art is the best known feature of the Cantabrian life. The latest round of systematic cave explorations began in the early 1970’s. Now new art can be discovered every year. Some of the care art is engraved and others are painted. Much of the cave art is of animals. There are often pictures of red deer found from this area of Spain. There are also other unusual symbols that can be found. This attracts much interest and many tourists to this culture. The Cantabrian life revolves mainly around art, tourism, and fishing. Rich deposits of coal, iron, and zinc are also mined in the Cantabrian Mountains. Tourism is a very large part of the Cantabrian life, and their economic success.
Resources:
Iberia Before the Ibrerians; The Stone Age Prehistory of Cantabrian Spain. Lawrence Guy Strauss. 1992
Cantabria. World Wide Web; found Nov. 29, 2000. http://www.red2000.com/spain/region/r-canta.html
A Brief History of Cantabria. World Wide Web; found Nov. 29, 2000. http://www.sispain.org/english/politics/autonomo/cantabri/canhis.html
Written by: Sarah Bos